Lower RTP percentages of slot machines will be the opposite. If the slot has a 95% payback percentage, it means that if you wager $100, $95 is how much will be paid to you. Audit firms check casinos to guarantee the fairness of their casino games and to ensure that the best online casinos that payout are fair. Agencies such as e-Commerce Online. Only nickel, dollar, and multi-denomination slots delivered over 90% RTP. Multi-denomination machines were the best deal at 93.61% payback. Nickel slot machines paid 91.63% RTP, which is okay by the Vegas Strip’s standards. However, this payout percentage isn’t so great when looking across the board. Payback percentage is all money paid out divided by all wagers, with the result multiplied by 100 to convert to percent. Any payout you receive counts on the payout side, even if you then lose it. Let’s say you start with $100 and bet $1 a spin, and that for the first 100 spins you receive $90 in payouts. The following information was gathered by the various Gaming Commissions controlling their casinos within their jurisdiction. Casinos constantly add and remove slot machines, trying new slot variations, therefore, the following information is presented as a guide only because these numbers change slightly every day.
Casinos are not able to change slot payouts, slot machines come with an already set payout percentage, when a casino places an order for a slot it specifies the long-term payout percentage it wants. Although, depending on the jurisdiction the casino may or may not be able to change the payback percentages at a later stage.
For example, in Nevada, casinos are able to change the slot payout percentages by ordering a new chip from the manufacturer, the chips in the slot machines are then swapped and it is only allowed when all the appropriate paperwork is filled with the state to inform them of the change. Some of the later model slot machines support downloadable software, should a casino request a change in payout percentages the software can be sent via a central server and the slot machine can be updated without physically being opened. Yet there are strict rules in place regarding software changes and the casino is unable to make these changes on any slot while anyone is playing on it.
What is the Immediate Payback Percentage on Slots?
There is actually, no present time payback percentage on slots, a slot machine’s payback percentage or payouts get closer to its long-term payout or payback percentage as it gets played more often. Even after tens of millions of spins, the payout or payback percentage might only be a few tenths of a percentage point off from the long-term percentage.
What can Casinos Change via the Configuration Menu?
What casinos can change via the configuration menus is quite restricted as many things cannot be changed, should all aspects be configurable it would open the machine up to cheating. So, what can be changed via the configuration menu is the sound or audio volume, graphical quality and some allow players to adjust this.
The typical payout percentages on slots are easier understood when you first look at casino games in general, in blackjack, it is quite possible for card counters to gain a mathematical advantage over the game while strategy player can somewhat lower the house edge. Roulette players who prefer games featuring the double-zero wheel are faced with a 5.26% house edge, while a single zero wheel is 2.7%.
When it comes to slots the house edge or advantage is replaced by the payback percentage, these vary from one software supplier to the next and from one slot to the other. Some of the most popular online slots offer a payback percentage of 99%, which is much higher than that offered by land-based slot machines, which offer around 79% to 85% on average. It is most important to remember the theoretical payout percentage are calculated over an extended time-period.
Introduction to Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling consists of twelve casinos of which six are pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines, four are standalone casinos, and two are casino resorts.
Pennsylvania has both minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits. Return statistics are publicly available online.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Pennsylvania*
The minimum legal gambling age in Pennsylvania depends upon the gambling activity:
Land-Based Casinos: 21
Poker Rooms: 21
Bingo: 18
Lottery: 18
Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
In 2004, the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act passed. This Act legalized slot machines at fourteen locations. Of these locations, gaming licenses have yet to be issued for a standalone casino and a pari-mutuel racetrack with slot machines.
Since July 2010, table games are in Pennsylvania casinos.
In October 2017, the state legislature legalized casino gambling at truck stops, airports, and online. This bill also authorized ten new satellite casinos with location restrictions.
Satellite casinos of existing casino operators must be within 25 miles of their existing Pennsylvania casino. Further, local municipalities may prohibit such a casino. These satellite casino licenses allow up to 750 slot machines and 50 table games.
Racetracks and standalone casinos can have up to 5,000 slot machines and 250 table games, while casino resorts can have up to 600 slot machines and 50 table games. Truck stops approved by their county may have up to 5 slot machines.
Casino operators may operate a gambling parlor at any of Pennsylvania’s international and regional airports, assuming successful agreements with the airport authority. None have yet opened, but expected in 2020.
To gamble within a casino resort, players must be a guest there. Put another way, the gaming floors within the casino resorts are not open to the public.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Pennsylvania
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in the state of Pennsylvania if it is 25 years old or older.
Gaming Control Board in Pennsylvania
The state gaming commission is the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). The PGCB is responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state.
Two different state gaming commissions are each responsible for the state lottery and charitable gaming.
Casinos in Pennsylvania
There are two casino resorts, four standalone casinos, and six racetracks with slot machines in Pennsylvania.
The largest casino in Pennsylvania is Parx Casino with 3,238 gaming machines during the last week of January 2020.
The second-largest casino is Wind Creek Bethlehem with 3,046 gaming machines during the last week of January 2020.
Commercial Casinos in Pennsylvania
The two casino resorts in Pennsylvania are:
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, 69 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, 21 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
The four standalone casinos in Pennsylvania are:
Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa in Mount Pocono, 31 miles southeast of Scranton.
Rivers Casino Philadelphia, 3 miles northeast of the downtown area.
Rivers Casino Pittsburgh in the downtown cultural center.
Wind Creek Bethlehem, 58 miles north of Philadelphia.
The six pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines in Pennsylvania are:
Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester, 18 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, 17 miles northeast of the capital of Harrisburg.
Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, 15 miles southwest of Scranton.
Parx Casino in Bensalem, 19 miles northeast of Philadelphia.
Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie, 126 miles north of Pittsburgh.
The Meadows Casino Racetrack Hotel in Washington, 26 miles south-southwest of Pittsburgh.
Tribal Casinos in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no federally-recognized American Indian tribes. Therefore, Pennsylvania has no tribal casinos as allowed by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1989.
Play pokies for fun. However, Pennsylvania is one of the few U.S. states with commercial casinos owned and operated by an American Indian tribe:
Mohegan Sun Pocono is owned and operated by the Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut through their Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment corporation.
Wind Creek Bethlehem is owned and operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians through their Wind Creek Hospitality corporation.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Pennsylvania is:
North: New York Slots and Lake Erie
East: New Jersey Slots
South: Delaware Slots, Maryland Slots, and West Virginia Slots
West: Ohio Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Pennsylvania.
Our Pennsylvania Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Pennsylvania? If so, join our new Pennsylvania slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Pennsylvania. Join us!
Payout Returns in Pennsylvania
The theoretical payout minimum for slot machines in Pennsylvania is 85%. Further, the maximum theoretical payout limit may not equal or exceed 100%. Both limits apply to each single play.
Pa Casino Payback Percentages
The PGCB makes monthly return statistics publicly available for Fiscal Year 2019/2020 for each gaming facility. To calculate player win%, divide payouts by wagers provided in each report.
For February 2020, the player win% at slots for each casino and statewide were:
Harrah’s: 89.47%
Hollywood: 89.38%
Mohegan Sun: 89.63%
Mount Airy: 90.35%
Nemacolin: 89.18%
Parx: 90.43%
Presque Isle: 89.43%
Rivers Philadelphia: 90.49%
Rivers Pittsburgh: 89.68%
The Meadows: 90.11%
Valley Forge: 90.25%
Wind Creek: 89.98%
Statewide: 89.97%
For February 2020, the highest player win% went to Rivers Philadelphia at 90.49%, followed closely by Parx and Mount Airy. The lowest player win% went to Nemacolin at 89.18% followed closely by Hollywood Penn National and Presque Isle.
Summary of Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Pennsylvania slot machine casino gambling consists of two casino resorts, four standalone casinos, and six racetracks with slot machines. Other locations should still open in 2020.
The theoretical payout limits are a minimum of 85% and a maximum of up to 100%. Monthly return statistics by casino are available online from the state gaming control board.
Annual Progress in Pennsylvania Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem became Wind Creek Bethlehem, acquired by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians through their Wind Creek Hospitality corporation for $1.3 billion.
Otherwise, there have been numerous casino name changes including:
Lady Luck Nemacolin became Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
Valley Forge Convention Center Casino became Valley Forge Casino Resort.
Mount Airy Resort & Casino became Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa.
Sugar House Casino became Rivers Casino Philadelphia.
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Indiana Casino Payback Percentages
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices! By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President Jon Friedl, LLC